Linea Abierta Programming: WEEK OF APRIL 1, 2024

MONDAY, APRIL 1
PROGRAM #10329 12:00 PM PT

The Birthplace of the Farm Worker Movement. Fresno recently recognized as a historical site the place where the National Association of Farm Workers held their first convention in 1962, the event that gave birth to the organized farmworker movement. On the Day of Cesar Chavez, a veteran activist-turned-historian shares details of that largely unrecognized landmark event and the promoter of the official city recognition talks about the meaning of the site for Fresno.

Guests: Chris Schneider, Veteran Farmworker Movement Activist, Attorney and Former Legal Worker, United Farm Workers-UFW, Fresno, CA; Miguel Arias, City Councilman, Fresno, CA.

Thousands of Farmworkers Face Displacement. Thousands of farmworkers are now without a job after Central Valley-based giant peach company Prima Wawona declared bankruptcy and announced a massive lay off. Without compensation from the broken agribusiness, the workers are now relying on the state’s safety net and on help from community organizations. Local leaders discuss emergency aid available.

Guests: Maria Lemus, District Director, Office of Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, Fresno, CA; Maricela Ortiz, Senior Field Representative, Office of Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, Fresno, CA; Reyna Rodriguez; Spokesperson, Proteus Inc., Visalia, CA.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 2
PROGRAM #10330 11:00 AM PT

Extra Edition: Facts and Stigma About Drugs. On the heels of National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, a drug policy expert joins this program to demystify issues related to drug use and addiction among youth. She discusses facts on drug prohibition and the crackdown on drug law violations, the overdose risk, the stigma on medication assisted treatment, and advocates for a health approach to drugs.

Guest: Norma Palacios, Policy Coordinator, Drug Policy Alliance-California Policy Office, Los Angeles, CA.

Tackling the Fentanyl Crisis in New Mexico. In New Mexico, Senator MartinHeinrich is leading efforts to address the opioid epidemic and protect communities from fentanyl, including creating a comprehensive system to remove barriers to accessing medications that help counter opioid use disorder. According to CDC data, drug overdose deaths have jumped from 65,000 in 2020 to 112,000 last year, while New Mexico has the sixth highest rate of drug overdose deaths nationwide.

Tax Season in the Final Stretch. With two weeks to go before the tax filing deadline, an expert offers tips and resources to clear up last-minute questions, including recent tax law changes, why Latinos may see lower refunds, and who qualifies for a Child Tax Credit (CTC).

Guest: Miguel Burgos, Tax Expert, Kennewick, WA.

Florida Abortion Law. The Florida Supreme Court upheld the most restrictive abortion laws in the United States, giving the green light to a ban on abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. In addition, it approved the drafting of a proposed constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights to appear on the ballot in the November elections. What are the most notable details of the amendment’s text?

Guest: Gerardo Guzmán, Program Host/Reporter, Atlanta, GA.

PROGRAM #10331 12:00 PM PT

Immigration Edition. A federal court allowed the Biden administration’s parole program to remain in place, allowing people in the US to sponsor Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans. An expert explains the impact of the decision. In more news, a legal expert from Eagle Pass comments on the series of court decisions around the restrictive Texas Senate Bill 4, which is currently on temporary hold. Finally, a human rights activist reports and discusses a hunger strike inside the Northwest Detention Center and the response her group has received from members of Congress.

Guests: Monika Y. Langarica, Senior Staff Attorney, Center for the Immigration Law and Policy-CILP, Los Angeles, CA; Alan Lizárraga, Communications Coordinator, Border Network for Human Rights -BNHR, El Paso, TX; Maru Mora Villalpando, Community Organizer and CEO, Latino Advocacy LLC, Seattle, WA.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3
PROGRAM #10332 12:00 PM PT

Gaza: Worsening Humanitarian Disaster. After the world court ordered Israel to ensure aid and halt famine in Gaza, and the UN Security Council demanded a ceasefire, Israeli forces continued launching raids on Gaza hospitals. Political analysts discuss the latest news and their ramifications in the US, where public opinion has turned against Israel and disapprove of how President Biden is handling the situation.

Guest: Almudena Bernabeu, Co-Founder and Director, Guernica37 International Justice Chambers, International Attorney, San Francisco, CA, today from Spain.

Boosting Parents’ Engagement in Schools. Latino students were among the hardest hit by pandemic learning loss. How far behind did they get in school? How can they recover? Are they getting the help they need? A leader of parents talks about community efforts to build a Latino educator pipeline in K-12 education and prepare Latino parents to participate in school board meetings and their children’s schools.

Guest: Christy Moreno, Chief Community Advocacy and Impact Officer, Revolución Educativa, Member of National Parents Union, Kansas City, MO.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 4
PROGRAM #10333 11:00 AM PT

Extra Edition: From Emergency Medi-Cal to Full-Scope Medi-Cal. Under a new California law, comprehensive Medi-Cal is now available to all people, including the undocumented. People currently on emergency Medi-Cal benefits will automatically transition into full-scope Medi-Cal. What do Medi-Cal enrollees need to know and do?

Guests: Jesús Velasco, Membership Enrollment Manager, Clínica Monseñor Oscar A. Romero, Los Angeles, CA; María Romero-Mora, Office of Communication and Community Engagement, California Department of Health Care Services-DHCS, Sacramento, CA.

Immigrants on Medi-Cal Hit by Disenrollment. A disproportionate number of Latinos have been kicked off Medi-Cal, as California resumes annual eligibility checks that were paused during the covid-19 pandemic. Among the hundreds of thousands of affected beneficiaries are people who had recently gained coverage through Medi-Cal expansion to undocumented residents. After health advocates pressed for a pause, a lawmaker introduced a bill that would slow disenrollments and extend flexible pandemic-era policies.

Guest: Jasmine Aguilera, Senior Reporter, El Timpano, In Collaboration with KFF Health News, Oakland, CA.

PROGRAM #10334 12:00 PM PT

The Great North American Eclipse. On April 8th, a total solar eclipse will cover large areas of Mexico, the US, and Canada. This cosmic phenomenon is expected to help astronomers learn more about the wonders of the universe as well as inspire the next generation of astronomers, scientists, and engineers. Why are astronomers interested in eclipses? What kinds of scientific discoveries have previous eclipses enabled? Why are scientists excited about the planned Giant Magellan Telescope? How come future ground-based telescopes are at risk? Why does the solar eclipse, or the Giant Magellan Telescope, matter to young people? A distinguished astronomer also shares viewing tips.

Guest: Dr. Solange Ramírez, Astronomer and Project Manager, Sloan Digital Sky Surveys at the Carnegie Observatories, Pasadena, CA.

Fewer Opportunities for Latino Children. Children of different racial and ethnic groups, even living in the same metro area, are often growing up in neighborhoods with radically different opportunities to thrive. An average White child enjoys much more opportunity than Black or Latino children. Growing up in a neighborhood with low opportunity has lifelong effects, including in life expectancy for children. An expert discusses these findings and what policymakers, educators, and community leaders can learn from them.

Guest: Dr. Dolores Acevedo-Garcia, Professor of Human Development and Social Policy, and Director of the Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham/Boston, MA

Unclaimed Social Security Money. Millions of people in the United States are eligible for additional Social Security payments, but they may not be aware of the program or may not qualify. To help close this gap, the Social Security Administration is continuing a campaign to raise awareness and reach people in “underserved cities and communities” in the U.S. that have shown the largest decline in SSI applications during and after the pandemic.

Guest: Abigail Zapote, Senior Adviser, Social Security Administration, Washington, DC.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 5
PROGRAM #10335 12:00 PM PT

Mexico Edition. The first presidential debate of the 2024 elections in Mexico will take place this weekend from the INE headquarters in Mexico City. Claudia Sheinbaum, Xóchitl Gálvez and Jorge Álvarez Máynez will meet to debate education and health, the fight against corruption, and discrimination, with questions gathered from Mexican citizens from around the nation through social media. Political analysts examine the expectations surrounding this first debate.

Guests: David Brooks, Correspondent, La Jornada, New York, NY; Víctor Barcenas, News Reporter, Radio Educación, Mexico City, MX.